God’s Timing is Very Evident to Paul

Acts 23:23–35
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The chief captain did not want to have to explain to his superior the assassination of a Roman citizen in his charge. Taking no chances, he summoned two-hundred foot soldiers, seventy cavalry, and another two hundred spearmen to see that Paul had a safe exodus from Jerusalem (v. 23). God was seeing to it that His apostle got to Rome safely (v. 24). The chief captain also sent along a letter to Felix, stating his belief in Paul’s innocence as far as the Roman law was concerned (vv. 25-30). 

This great company of soldiers left at nine o’clock at night (v. 23). The city gates would have been opened to let them through and then closed again, making it virtually impossible for a pursuit to take place until the gates were opened again in the morning, and by that time Paul would be safely in Caesarea. You can imagine the disappointment of these about to be assassins as this strong force protecting Paul sped out of sight, heading for the Roman capital. The soldiers took him on the first leg of his journey, as far as Antipatris, a small town in the plains of Sharon about forty miles from Jerusalem and some twenty-five miles south of Caesarea (v. 31). Now that the main danger was passed, the infantry turned back to Jerusalem, and only the cavalry went on to Caesarea with Paul (v. 32).

When they came to Caesarea, they gave the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him (v.33). The governor read the letter. Then he asked Paul and found out that he was from Cilicia (v. 34). Paul was now in the hands of Felix, who had ruled the country in a very cruel and treacherous manner for seven years. He was a man of lowly origin and owed his high rank to the influence of his brother Pallas, who had been in Rome during the reign of Claudius. This was the man in whose hands the future of Paul now rested. Felix prudently, and rightly, decided to defer Paul’s case until the accusers from Jerusalem came to press charges (v. 35). As it turned out Paul stayed here for two years as a prisoner while his case was in limbo.

Application

Is there a reason that God has placed me and my family in our particular community at this time? Am I taking advantage of where God has placed me? Ask each member of your family if they think they are taking advantage of their situation.